Milk is the most diversified natural food contained more than 20 trace elements that are necessary for human health. However, metals such as Pb, Cr, Hg, As and so on, may contaminate the environment and thus the feed and water, passing into milk and causing health problems. In our study, the content of 22 elements, including Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Al, V, Cr, Ni, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb and U, in cow milk (40), goat milk (40) and buffalo milk (20) in China were analyzed. These 22 elements in their corresponding feed and water were also examined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave-assisted acid digestion. Significant differences (P < 0.05) with mean values were analyzed by Tukey’s HSD test in SPSS 17.0. The mean spiked recovery of analytical method was 70.96–113.41% in milk, 71.2–114.8% in feed, and 86.50–123.30% in water. In milk, the mean content of Rb and Zn showed high levels (>1000μg/L), followed by Al, Fe, Sr and Ba (100–1000 μg/L), and then Mn, Cu, Se and Cs (10~100μg/L). The mean values of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Ga, As, Ag, Cd, Hg, Tl, Pb and U were less than 10 μg/L. Co, Rb, Sr, Cs and Tl levels showed significant difference (P < 0.05) among cow, goat and buffalo milk. The content of Rb, Sr, Pb, Cs, As, Ni, Tl in drinking water were significant (P < 0.05) correlated with those in milk. However, elements in feed were not (P > 0.05) related to milk. It suggested that elements in water might contribute the content of elements in milk. The levels of As, Cd, Hg and Pb were under the MRL of China and did not pose threat to consumers.